The intervention comes after the Observer published the names of the victims as part of its coverage
of the start of a trial of an alleged serial rapist. The newspaper named the
women and gave details of how each of them was allegedly attacked.

It did not say whether it would pay the women
compensation for publishing their names. The newspaper has not announced that
it will discipline the editor or other staff member for the error. Unlike in
Swaziland, in many countries it is a serious offence to name alleged rape victims.
For example, in England an editor would be taken before a judge on a contempt
of court charge.

The women named by the newspaper are all too poor
to be able to afford to take the Observer
to court. However, if they had been able to, the compensation that the paper,
in effect owned by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch,
might be required to pay out could be enough to bankrupt it.

iMediaEthics, under the headline Seriously?
8 Rape Victims IDed, Error called a 'Boo-Boo', said it had written to the Swazi Observer to ask if any of
the victims complained or threatened legal action.